Miami Dolphins - TeamReport

May 20, 2013|Reuters

NFL Team Report - Miami Dolphins - INSIDE SLANT

When the Dolphins begin this week's OTA's Tuesday, they will be particularly interested to see if safety Reshad Jones shows up.

Jones, who is reported to be unhappy with his contract, apparently raised concern Monday when he did not show up for an offseason conditioning session, according to the Miami Herald. That ended a record of perfect attendance for Jones this offseason and team officials reportedly tried to track him down.

The Dolphins' OTA days this week are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Although both the conditioning and OTA workouts are voluntary, if Jones is a no-show for the rest of the week, it might be considered a statement that he wants a better contract.

Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract. It would pay him $1.323 million this season, which could make him the team's lowest-paid starting defensive back and one of the lowest-paid starters, depending on how the depth chart plays out.

A fifth-round pick out of Georgia in 2010, Jones has been an important part of the defense, starting 28 games the last two seasons. Last year he led the team with four interceptions, recovered two fumbles, forced two fumbles, had one sack and was third on the team with 74 solo tackles.

--When the Dolphins begin this week's OTA's Tuesday, they will be particularly interested to see if safety Reshad Jones shows up.

Jones, who is reported to be unhappy with his contract, apparently raised concern Monday when he did not show up for an offseason conditioning session, according to the Miami Herald. That ended a record of perfect attendance for Jones this offseason and team officials reportedly tried to track him down.

The Dolphins' OTA days this week are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Although both the conditioning and OTA workouts are voluntary, if Jones is a no-show for the rest of the week, it might be considered a statement that he wants a better contract.

Jones is in the final year of his rookie contract. It would pay him $1.323 million this season, which could make him the team's lowest-paid starting defensive back and one of the lowest-paid starters, depending on how the depth chart plays out.

A fifth-round pick out of Georgia in 2010, Jones has been an important part of the defense, starting 28 games the last two seasons. Last year he led the team with four interceptions, recovered two fumbles, forced two fumbles, had one sack and was third on the team with 74 solo tackles.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday that the Dolphins don't necessarily have to relocate despite the Florida legislature's refusal last week to fund renovations to Sun Life Stadium.

"We do want to see the Dolphins stay in Miami," Goodell told NFL.com's Steve Wyche. "We want to see them stay in a facility that will allow them to compete, and to bring in other big events, including Super Bowls. And that takes work, it takes investment, and (team owner) Steve Ross was doing the investing and was really the guy who was putting his heart and soul into this and his passion into this. And that's what's frustrating is that it didn't get a chance to get to the voters. ...

"I went down to Tallahassee myself before the legislative session ended. Of course we will stay involved, we will do whatever is necessary because we do think it's right for all of Florida. We think (a stadium renovation) is particularly good for the Miami-Dade area. It will help attract bigger events, and that will have a real economic impact on the community."

"The Dolphins are one of the only franchises in the NFL that don't have a long-term lease with their community," Dee said, according to The Palm Beach Post. "At some point, somebody's going to buy the franchise from (Ross), and clearly the stadium is the first thing they would need to address."

--The Dolphins received plenty of attention for spending big money on offensive weapons who can help out quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

But the team is also undergoing big changes at cornerback, and several veterans may be out of work come September.

Former Falcons Pro Bowler Brent Grimes was signed for one year and $3 million guaranteed to hold down one starting spot, assuming he can return fully from a torn Achilles suffered last September.

And the Dolphins spent three of their nine draft picks on cornerbacks --Boise State's Jamar Taylor in the second round, trading up to get Utah State's Will Davis in the third round and taking athletic prospect Don Jones in the seventh round.

Already the Dolphins traded former first-round pick Vontae Davis last year and let his running mate Sean Smith walk away in free agency in March. Now fourth-year pro Nolan Carroll, third-year veteran Jimmy Wilson and eight-year vet Richard Marshall will have tough competition for their jobs.